Angelonia plant named &#39;cas whit07&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Angelonia  cultivar particularly distinguished by having a white flower color, a prostrate, outwardly spreading, vigorous growth and well-branched plant habit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Angelonia angustifolia

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Cas Whit07’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAngelonia, botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Cas Whit07’. The new cultivaroriginated from a hybridization made in September 2002 in Gilroy, Calif.The female parent was ‘228-1’ (unpatented) a proprietary Angelonia planthaving white flowers, while the male parent was ‘197-2’, (unpatented), aproprietary Angelonia plant having white flowers.

The seeds produced by the self-pollination were sown in April 2003. Asingle plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexualpropagation in July 2003.

The new cultivar was created in September, 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. andhas been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings andtissue culture in Gilroy, Calif. and Andijk, The Netherlands over athree-year period. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif.,Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid, Germany. The line has been shownto reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada onMarch 21, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif. and Andijk, The Netherlands.

1. White flower color; and

2. Prostrate, outwardly spreading well-branched and vigorous planthabit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Angelonia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich shows the overall plant habit, including inflorescences, buds andfoliage of the plant. The plants were approximately 15 to 16 weeks oldand grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany during the summer. Thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows the overall plant habit including inflorescences, buds andfoliage pf the plant

FIG. 2. shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Cas Whit07’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. The detailed description was taken on 15 to 18 week oldplants in 4-inch pots. The plants had one plant growth regulatortreatment and one terminal pinch after cuttings were transplanted to the4 inch pots. Color readings were taken in the late summer season undernatural light in a greenhouse. Color references are primarily to the RHSColour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS), 2001edition. Texture descriptions were viewed with a dissecting microscope.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.        -   Botanical.—Angelonia angustifolia.        -   Common.—Angel flower.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—‘197-2’, a proprietary white-flowered Angelonia            plant (unpatented).        -   Female parent.—‘228-1’ a proprietary white-flowered            Angelonia plant (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Mostly prostrate while outwardly spreading.        -   Habit.—A vigorous growth habit and well-branched; pinching            terminal apices 1 to 2 times after transplanting enhances            branching.        -   Height (measured from the base of plant).—10 cm to 14 cm.        -   Width (measured from the widest portion of plant).—45 cm to            55 cm.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—18 to 20 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, free branching.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 to 9 weeks            from a 4-inch pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Plant in full sun; free flowering            through the summer; some heat tolerance; use in mixed            container plantings or hanging baskets.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—35 cm to 45 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.5 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Color.—Between RHS 144A and RHS 144B.        -   Texture.—Glandular hairs, varying in sizes.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature leaves.—Color: Upper surface: Closest to RHS 139A            Lower surface: Closest to RHS 137A.        -   Mature leaves.—Length: 6.3 cm to 6.8 cm Width: 1.1 cm to 1.3            cm Shape: Linear to lanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Fused            Margin: Serrate Color: Upper surface: Closest to RHS 139A            Lower surface: Closest to RHS 137A Texture: Few glandular            hairs Venation: Pinnate Venation color: RHS 144B.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Globular/round.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 150D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous throughout the growing season;            good floriferousness.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—6 to 9 days.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly sweet.        -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal raceme.        -   Floret type.—Single flowers; sometimes two in a leaf axis; 5            petals fused at the base.        -   Florets per raceme.—25 to 30.        -   Floret diameter (at widest point).—2.3 cm to 2.5 cm.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 155 (White); RHS            144C at the pedicel attachment Lower surface: Closest to RHS            155 (White).        -   Corolla color (inside).—Closest to RHS 155 (White) with a            spot of RHS 144B to RHS 144C (fading some as the flower            matures).        -   Petals.—Size: Upper lip: Length: 0.9 cm to 1.0 cm (from            corolla opening) Width: 1.0 cm to 1.1 cm Lower lip, lateral            petal: Length: 1.8 cm to 1.9 cm from the corolla opening            Width: 1.8 cm to 1.9 cm Lower lip, mid-petal: Length: 0.9 cm            to 1.0 cm from the corolla opening Width: 1.0 cm Apex:            Rounded Base: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Papillose with            few glandular hairs; those along the corolla opening and the            lower mid-petal have yellow-green hue.        -   Sepals.—Sepal number: 5, fused at the base Color: RHS 143A            Length: 0.4 cm Width: 0.1 cm Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute            Margin: Entire Anthocyanin: Absent Texture: Short glandular            hairs.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144B Length: 1.4 cm to 1.5 cm Diameter:            0.075 cm Texture: Glandular hairs, varying in size.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—4, in pairs.        -   Stamen length.—0.5 cm.        -   Filament color.—Closest to RHS 155 (White).        -   Filament length.—0.4 cm.        -   Anther color.—Not observed.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—RHS N155D (White).        -   Pistil.—One.        -   Pistil length.—0.35 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Style length.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Stigma color.—Closest to RHS 155 (White).        -   Style color.—Closest to RHS 155 (White).-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed production has been observed-   Disease and insect resistance: None observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘Cas Whit07’ differs from the female parent ‘228-1’ (unpatented) in that‘Cas Whit07’ has darker green foliage, more branching, a fuller planthabit and is more floriferous than ‘228-1’.

‘Cas Whit07’ differs from the male parent ‘197-2’ (unpatented) in that‘Cas Whit07’ has better cascading habit, larger flowers and is morefloriferous than ‘197-2’.

‘Cas Whit07’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Balangbawi’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,555), in that ‘Cas Whit07’ has larger foliage, a moreprostate plant habit, larger pedicels and is more floriferous than‘Balangbawi’.

1. A new and distinct Angelonia plant as shown and described herein.